Stress and Chronic Illness
Having a chronic illness can increase the amount of stress in your life. In fact, research has shown that stress and some chronic illnesses (asthma, heart disease, arthritis, as examples) are linked.
Stress can “drive immune changes and inflammation in the body that can worsen symptoms of conditions…[and] issues caused by stress can also be symptoms of chronic illnesses.”
With stress contributing to the effects of chronic illness, and chronic illness exacerbating the effects of stress, it’s important to understand when you’re feeling stress and take steps to release it.
Recognizing stress
According to the Mayo Clinic, stress can affect your body, your mood, and your behavior. For example, when you are stressed, you may feel muscle tension or fatigue in your body, have trouble focusing or be in a grumpy mood, and avoid doing things that you know are good for you, like exercising or eating well.
You may or may not be aware of the negative effects that stress has on your health and wellbeing. You may think of stress as temporary and situational. But sometimes, stressful events can pile up, one after the other, and become chronic.
Chronic stress is different than temporary (acute) stress. Acute stress occurs in response to something happening in your environment. For example, you might slam on your brakes to avoid an accident while driving and feel short-term stress. But chronic stress lasts for weeks or months.
Recognizing chronic stress is important because your nervous system (which is involved in stress response) interacts with other body systems (like skeletal muscles and your immune system), and that can result in greater likelihood of health conditions occurring. Those health conditions might include chronic illness, like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
[SELF-CARE: Caregivers Need Care, Too]
Responding to stress
Chronic stress usually occurs in response to significant life challenges (like money or relationship problems). It can be a good idea to seek outside help, like a financial advisor or therapist, as you figure out how to handle those challenges. A community health worker (CHW) may also help you find appropriate resources.
In additional to professionals, let friends and family act as your support system as you navigate stressful situations. Talking to people you trust and love can relieve the burden of stress; they may also be able to help you address the root of the issues leading to chronic stress.
Other tactics to relieve stress include:
Getting enough sleep: For some people, this could mean sleeping longer. For others, it could mean trying to reduce insomnia. Some people find that a warm bath or breathing exercises before bed can help.
Adding exercise: Moving more can improve your sleep quality, as well as lower the risk of or manage some chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Beyond that, it can improve your mood and help you to de-stress.
The link between chronic illness and stress means that managing stress is taking good care of your health.
